How many kilometers can you drive with a broken oil pump?
2 Answers
It is best to repair a broken oil pump promptly. The following is a related introduction to the oil pump: 1. Working principle: The oil pressure relief valve consists of a valve or ball and a coil spring. After the oil is sucked in through the filter screen, it is sent to the oil filter. When the oil supply pressure increases with the engine speed, the relief valve opens. At this time, the oil enters the inlet side from the outlet side via a bypass to maintain the specified pressure. Since the spring stiffness value used on the relief valve is very precise, the maximum pressure of the oil pump can be guaranteed. If the stiffness of the spring increases, the oil pressure will also increase. However, the discharge volume of the pump will not increase. 2. Influencing factors: Other factors that affect engine oil pressure include: the speed of the oil pump, as oil pressure increases with speed; the viscosity of the oil, as higher viscosity leads to higher oil pressure; and the oil clearance, as bearing gaps can hinder the oil pump from building pressure. When bearings are worn, it becomes difficult to form adequate pressure.
As someone who frequently works on cars, I've personally witnessed numerous cases of oil pump failures. This component is responsible for supplying oil to lubricate the engine. Once it fails and oil circulation stops, the metal components inside the engine will directly rub against each other and overheat, potentially wearing out bearings and causing engine seizure within minutes. In such situations, never attempt to drive the vehicle—if you insist on driving, the car might only run a few hundred meters to a kilometer before stalling, depending on the vehicle's condition and road conditions. For example, crawling slowly in urban areas might buy you slightly more time, but it's extremely risky; accelerating too quickly on highways is even worse, as it could lead to instant engine failure. I've seen cases where people stubbornly drove a few kilometers, only to end up paying 10,000 to 20,000 yuan for engine repairs, while a tow truck would have cost just a few hundred yuan—it's simply not worth it. My advice is to pull over immediately, turn off the engine, and check the oil level. Don't gamble with luck; call for a tow truck if needed. Safe driving is more important than anything else—don't let a small issue escalate into a major problem. After all, if the engine fails, the entire vehicle could be totaled, and the consequences would be too severe.
